Dane Suarez, tenor
Kerriann Otaño, soprano
Selections from: Tosca, Florencia en el Amazonas, Madama Butterfly, Carmen
Songs by: Lara, Verdi, Schubert, Gounod, Malotte
Singing Joe in La fanciulla del West (Puccini) - September 6, 8, 10m, 12
Considered by Puccini himself to be among his finest works, the brilliant orchestration and lyricism of La Fanciulla del West animate the passion and adventure of the California Gold Rush. The opera had its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in 1910 and has long been a favorite of New York audiences. City Opera's new production of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West will be directed by Ivan Stefanutti and conducted by James Meena. The production is an international collaboration between the Teatro di Giglio in Lucca, Italy, the Teatro Lirico in Cagliari, Sardinia, and Opera Carolina.
30 Days of Opera is exactly what it sounds like: 30 days of totally awesome - totally FREE - performances by Opera Memphis. For the entire month of September, we take the show on the road - singing all over Memphis and the MidSouth. We like to say that we spend the month turning the "opera house inside out," and it could not be more true! Whether we are at a large community festival, singing on a street corner, or doing a show of The Playground King (our original children's opera), we'll be somewhere near you! Explore this website to learn more.
Ruggero (cover; performance date: TBA)
Gobin (Nov 11, 12, 16, 19, 21, 26)
At a fashionable Parisian party, a poet speaks of the nature of love, and Magda realizes that her life as a courtesan has no love at all. Seeking to relive her poor but unhappy youth, she dresses as a shop girl and ventures to the dance she frequented as a teenager. There, she meets and falls in love with a young man, and leaves her rich protector. Of course, it goes the way of all flesh. Puccini, at the height of his Romantic style, revels in the gaiety of Paris and the sensual richness of love: pure soaring lusciousness, and a little heartbreak.
Rodolfo in La bohème (Dec. 8-9, 14-16)
Likely the most important production in POP history, La bohème gave POP their brand (and mascot.) The hipsters will return to the Ebell Club for five performances in the 3rd revival of Artistic Director Josh Shaw's production.
Covering Erik in Der fliegende Holländer (Wagner) - February 10, 11, 15, 18, 23, 25
Cover Performance Date: TBA
In his youth, Wagner created his fastest moving and perhaps his most effective score. The Flying Dutchman is an ideal introduction to Wagner. It’s the easiest to listen to and it has real melodies that convey the ancient legend of the immortal Dutchman, which culminates with this opera. As the legend goes, a ship’s captain is cursed to live until he can find someone who will love him until death. On this unique day he meets Senta, who has been obsessed with his legend from childhood. However, in the legend, she must die to free him from eternal life on earth, which has become a living hell. It is a brilliant story with one of the most compelling roles in all of opera, and it’s Wagner!
Singing Alfredo in La traviata (Verdi): April 14, 15, 19, 22, 27, 29
One of the most treasured operas of all time, La traviata is told in waltz time, giving us the life of the most beautiful woman in Paris. Dancing away her days, Violetta survives on the generosity of the wealthiest men of France, living in luxury until she meets Alfredo Germont, who, having nothing, offers her love instead. For a short spring, she and Alfredo live an idyllic life in the country until his father convinces her that their relationship is harming Alfredo’s sister. She gives him up and returns to a man who has kept her in the past, and everything crashes down around her. Verdi created one of the world’s most successful works for the stage when he penned the perennial La traviata.